March 10th - Ohio StateTed Ginn skipped the combine workouts and all eyes will be on Columbus to see his 40 time. One thing to keep in mind when you hear Ginn's time... the track at OSU is FAST. How fast? AJ Hawk ran a 4.6 40-time at the combine last year, he ran a 4.38 at OSU's pro day. So don't be surprised when Ginn posts a 4.2 - 4.3 time. Just remember it won't be nearly as impressive as it sounds.

March 14 - LSUAnother top player who didn't take the field during the combine, JaMarcus Russell, will finally workout for scouts at LSU's pro day.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Combine winners - Olsen, Hill, Shaw, Houston

The 2007 NFL combine is in the books and there are some clear winners during the week long event.

Ryan Kalil - Kalil shined during the drills and showed great agility for his size. He'll be the first center chosen and possibly a first round pick.

Greg Olsen - Blew away the tight end competition with a 4.5 40-yard dash and performed extremely well in the drills. He's the top TE now and a first round pick.

Drew Stanton - He made strong throws during drills and posted the fastest reported 40 time for QBs with a 4.73. The Michigan State standout may have helped his case to be the third quarterback off the board.

Adrian Peterson - He measured in at 6’2” and 218 pounds, and then posted a 10’7” broad jump, a 38.5’ vertical jump, and 4.40 40-time.

Calvin Johnson - After weighing in at 6'5" and 239 pounds, Johnson wowed with a 4.35 40-yard dash. He's the best player in the draft and maybe the best receiving prospect ever.

Brian Leonard - The 6'2" - 226 lbs fullback, who wants to play halfback, showed speed, power, and athleticism. He ran a 4.49 40-time and put up 28 reps of the 225 bench. He'll be an impact player no matter what position he plays at the next level.

Jason Hill - Put up a 4.32 40-time, the second best time of anyone at the combine. Not bad for guy who's main weakness was supposed to be his speed. The WR group is deep, but Hill should be a second rounder at worst.

Gaines Adams - Excelled during drills - three-cone (7.17), vertical jump (35”), shuttle (4.36), broad jump (9’11”), and 40-yard dash (4.64) were all among the top at his position. He's a top 10 pick.

Adam Carriker - His stock was already hot after a big Senior Bowl week. Now it is even hotter after an impressive performance at the combine. His shuttle time of 4.18 at almost 300 pounds is nothing short of amazing. The 49ers at pick 11 are showing a lot of interest.

Zak DeOssie - Ivy League invite from Brown helped his stock in a big way. He weighed in at 6’4”, 250 pounds and ran a 4.53 40 to go with 26 reps.

Chris Houston - Ran a DB best 4.32 40-yard dash, a 4.12 20-yard shuttle, and a 10’2” broad jump. Add in his 27 reps at 225 on Monday, and Houston helped himself in a big way during the combine.

Laron Landry - Already a high first round pick, he ran a 4.35 40-time to nail down a probable top ten spot in the draft.

Hall and Landry display impressive speed

Cornerback Leon Hall displayed better then expected speed by running a 4.39 40-yard dash at today's combine workout. Hall had begun to slip on draft boards, despite his excellent college production, because some feared he didn't have the top line speed to excel at the next level. Those fears can now be put to rest and Hall will begin to jump back up most draft boards.

Safety Laron Landry was even more impressive, running a 4.35 40-time. That time should solidify the hard hitting safety from LSU as a top ten pick and top safety in the draft.

Small school linebackers shine at combine

Barnes, an outside linebacker from Florida International, put on an impressive display of speed and strength. He led all linebackers with a 4.40 40-yard dash and finished second among his peers with 31 reps of the 225 bench. At 6'1" 240 pounds he has the size, speed, and strength scouts love.

DeOssie, a huge linebacker from Brown, showed amazing speed for someone his size. After weighing in at 6'5" and 250 pounds he went out and ran a 4.53 40-time.

Gary Russell couldn't have had a worse combine. He showed up out of shape and turned in one of the worst 40-times for a RB in recent memory - 4.84. He also managed just 9 reps on the 225 bench!

Zach Miller looked more like an offensive lineman running his 40-yard dash at a slow 4.84. Then he displayed the hands of a lineman, dropping numerous passes during the drills. To make matters worse, Greg Olsen wowed everyone with a 4.5 40-time.

Johnnie Lee Higgins spent two days telling everyone he would run a sub 4.2 40-time and break all the combine records. He then went out and ran a 4.48. While not a bad time, it certainly didn't live up to the hype and was no where near the top receivers at the combine.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Jarret skips 40, would have posted over 4.7?

Dwayne Jarrett skipped the 40-yard dash at the combine today. Rumors are swirling that he was running the 40-yard dash in over 4.7 seconds at pre-combine workouts and that was the reason he didn't run today.

If true, it would be a blow to Jarrett's stock. No one expected him to have one of the faster 40-times, but a 4.7 would be slower than any receiver at the combine. A slow 40-time would worry NFL scouts that he'll have difficulty getting separation in the NFL.

He'll workout at USC's Pro Day, but the numbers he puts up there will be discounted by scouts. Pro Day workouts, especially USC's, are notorious for improving 40-yard dash times. They typically have faster tracks, and more favorable conditions then the combine.

Peterson impresses, Henry surprises

Adrian Peterson put up an impressive unofficial 4.38 40-yard time at today's combine which should solidify him as the top RB and a lock for a top ten pick.

Marshawn Lynch's 40-time was less impressive. Lynch was looking to run a sub 4.40. Instead he ran an unofficial 4.52. (Lynch's official time was 4.46)

The fastest unofficial 40-time was turned in by Chris Henry of Arizona. Henry blazed a 4.33 40-yard dash. At 6' and 230 pounds, Henry is an intriguing prospect. Henry was a seldom used reserve his first two seasons at Arizona and only put up 581 yards last season as a junior. He looks to have all the physical talent, but where was the production in college?

Greg Olsen runs a 4.47 40-yard dash

Greg Olsen, after weighing in at 6'6" and 254 lbs, just ran an unofficial 4.47 40-yard dash at the combine. He is separating himself from the rest of the tight end competition and should be a first round lock and the first tight end off the board on draft day. Zach Miller, thought to be Olsen's main competition for the top TE spot, only managed a 4.84 40-yard time.

Reports from day two at the combine

Some more action today as QB, RB, and WR checked in. They were weighed-in and spent most of the day in interviews. OL and TE hit the weight room, were subjected to psychological testing, and had more interviews. On to the notes....

Rumors of the Packers drafting Marshawn Lynch could become reality. The Packers spent time with Lynch on both Thursday and Friday. Also, Lynch said the following during interviews, “Everybody tells me, ‘Get ready to pack your ear muffs, your gloves and a big coat. You’re going to Green Bay.’”

Gil Brandt returns with his day 2 quick hits. He runs down some player measurements and reports on the punters and kickers workout. Danny Sepulveda was the best punter, averaging 44.58 on eight kicks. Nick Folk of Arizona was the best kicker converting on 13 of 16 field goals.

Don Banks day two notes include news on quarterbacks JaMarcus Russell and Troy Smith. In the article Mike Mayock is quoted, saying of Russell - "He's got the most spectacular physical skill set of any college quarterback I've ever seen.'' Russell weighed in at 6'5", 265 pounds. Smith weighed in at 6', 225 pounds and scouts are predicting he'll go late second or early third.

Smith, Jarret, and Hunt won't run at combine

More players are announcing they'll skip the 40-yard dash at the combine. Troy Smith, Dwayne Jarrett, and Tony Hunt will all be spectators while other players are running the forty.

Its disappointing that these players aren't willing to run with their peers and instead choose to wait till their pro day. Pro day's are notorious for improving forty times and it's difficult to compare a forty run during a pro day to one that is run at the combine.

Calvin Johnson weighs in at 239 pounds

Calvin Johnson weighed in at 239 pounds this morning. He was the heaviest receiver at the combine. It will be interesting to see if someone his size can actually run a 4.33 40, as he was reported to do during workouts last week. Last year Vernon Davis wowed everyone at the combine with a 4.38 40 after weighing in at 250 pounds.

Joe Staley will miss combine drills

Mlive reports offensive tackle Joe Staley pulled his right hamstring last week and won't be able to perform the combine drills.

Staley, who might be the most athletic lineman at the combine, was hoping to run a 4.7 forty and impress in the drills. He'll now have to wait till Central Michigan's pro day to show scouts his athleticism.

Don Banks' notes from day one include an interview with Ted Ginn. Ginn, who won't run at the combine, said he hasn't run a 40 in a couple of years, but his times were consistently in the range of 4.34 when he did.

The main action begins this Saturday when these first day arrivals hit the field for workouts. QB, WR, and RB workout on Sunday, DL and LB on Monday, and DB on Tuesday. The full schedule is available on the official NFL combine site.

We'll have complete coverage of the combine in this blog and daily recaps from staff writer Greg Davis. Don't miss his combine preview for a look at some of the drills the players will perform on the field.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Ginn to skip drills at combine

"Right now, I'm just going to weigh in, get my height measured, and take care of things like that," Ginn said over the phone on Friday. "I tried to get ready for Indy, but it wasn't a good time for me. I just have to wait for the next time."

Ginn hopes his ankle will allow him to work out during Ohio State's Pro Day on March 10th.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Calvin Johnson runs a 4.33 in the 40

Calvin Johnson, preparing for the league's scouting combine in Indianapolis next week, was clocked at 4.33 in the 40. He also recorded an 11-foot standing broad jump and had a vertical leap of 43 inches.

While Johnson might not be the first player chosen, he is clearly separating himself as the top player in the 2007 NFL draft. Johnson is a rare talent. He is 6'-4", 234 pounds, and runs a 4.33 40 yard dash!

His combination of size, speed, hands, intelligence and work ethic are unheard of at the receiver position. Think Randy Moss talent with a Marvin Harrison work ethic. In fact Johnson is actually 25 pounds bigger then Moss and if the 4.33 - 40 is accurate, just as fast.

Thursday, February 1, 2007

Official NFL Combine Invite List

The Official NFL Combine invite list has been released. Don't be surprised when some of the top skill players skip the drills at the combine. This happens each year as players with little to gain by performing the combine drills wait for private workouts or college pro days to perform for scouts. These pro day workouts are usually on a faster track and provide a more favorable environment for the prospects.